Real Madrid, Barcelona Football’s Richest Clubs – Deloitte

Spain’s biggest soccer teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, are beginning to leave their rivals behind in the sport’s money race.

Real Madrid saw its revenues rise by just more than 9% to €480 million ($637 million) in the 2010-11 season, while revenues at rival Barcelona were up 13% to €451 million.

The top two increased the gap between themselves and the third-highest earner, Manchester United, which saw annual revenues of €367 million, a 5% increase, according to a study by Deloitte.

It was the third straight year that the Spanish teams finished No. 1 and No. 2 in Deloitte’s rankings.

Barcelona closed the gap on Real Madrid thanks in part to its success on the field: The club won the UEFA Champions League — club soccer’s most glamorous prize — for the second time in three years. Its run to the final boosted Barcelona’s television income from the competition to help it bring in €184 million in overall TV revenue, more than any other club, Deloitte said. Read more about Deloitte’s rankings.

Germany’s Bayern Munich, fourth overall, was the biggest commercial revenue earner, with €178 million. But unlike the top three teams, Bayern saw its year-on-year revenue fall, as it paid the price for an early knockout in the Champions League and a relatively poor third-place finish in Germany’s Bundesliga.

The only new entrant in this year’s top 10 was another German team, Schalke, which saw revenues jump 45% to €202 million, enough for 10th place. The club’s run to the Champions League semifinals helped double its broadcast revenue, while the Schalke also had commercial revenues of €91 million, fifth in Deloitte’s rankings.